Etching-machine.



L. E. & M. LEVY.

BTGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27,1906

920,766. Patented May 4,1909.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

I I1 I fluwnlo: l-vihwooco 57 (3. I arrow,

L. E. & M. LEVY.

ETGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 27,1906.

Patented May 4, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lllll 1 W} mm? UlllllllllIlllll E I 013M444 alumni L. & M. LEVY. ETCHING MAUHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27,1906.

920,766. Patented May 4, 1909.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

g 8%, '6. GW W I Qmm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS EDWARD LEVY AND MAX LEVY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO GRAPHIC ARTS 00., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY ETCHING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that we, LOUIS EDWARD LEVY and MAX LEVY, citizens of the United States, and residents of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have jointly invented new and useful Im rovements in Etching-Machines, of which t e following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in etching machines, the purpose thereof being to provide a simple and eflective apparatus for projecting an erodent or etching fluid against the surface of a plate, to erode or etch the unprotected parts of its surface, the apparatus forming the subject matter of this application being used to more efi'ectually carry into effect the Levy acid blast method of etching, in which method the etching fluid is projected upward against the upder surface of a horizontally supported ate.

p Our present invention includes means for exhausting from an etching-chamber the fumes or vapors that are generated during the process of etching, such fumes or vapors being condensed, a part being returned to the etching-chamber for further use, means also being provided for preventing the escape of fumes or vapors so that the atmosphere about the machine will not be vitiated.

In an apparatus made in accord with our invention, there is present an acid-chamber and connected therewith is an air-chamber which communicates with the acid-chamber solely by passages through as irating atomizers or nozzles; the acid-c amber which is more or less open to the atmosphere is connected to exhaust mechanism, and the air-chamber is connected with a blower or air compressor, the arrangement being such that during the process of etch ing the vapors, fumes or gases and air are drawn from the etching-chamber, so that in operation less than atmospheric pressure will be maintained in said etching-chamber and at the same time air under pressure is supplied to the atomizers, toproject acid on the plate to etch the sanie, and with an apparatus made in accord with our invention, pressure greater than that of the atmosphere is maintained in the air-chamber and a partial vacuum is kept up in the etchingchamber.

Another feature of our invention appertains' to the late-carrier or carriage, such plate-carrier being adapted to be detached from mechanism that imparts a reciprocating motion thereto, so that the carriage when detached from its reciprocating mechanism .may be moved toward front of the apparatus and raised to expose the surface 0 the plate.

- The circulating system used in carrying into use our invention includes an etchingchamber, a partial cover therefor, an airchamber that communicates with the ctch ing-chamber by air vents or passages through atomizing nozzles or aspirators, means for efiecting an inflow of air to the etching-chamber, a condenser for the fumes, vapors or gaseous products that are evolved during the process of etching, a pi e connected to the blower or ump and a y-pass or valve for the escape of a part of the fumes and vapors so arranged that in use pressure will be maintained in the air-chamber and a partial vacuum in the etching-chamber.

Our invention also includes several novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating our invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation,

and in this view the carriage and its plate carrier is shown by dotted or broken lines in a raised position. Fig. 2 is a top view of the machine.- Fig. 3 is a transverse section, on the line 3'3 of Fig. 2, showing the bridge, the plate carrier and frames that rest upon the tanks. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the plate-carrier. Fig. 5 is a top View of the tanks. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the tanks, on the line 6-5 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail section, on the line 77 of Fig.

Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of one of the baffle-plates of the condenser. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of one of the Sprayers. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of one of the acid atomizing nozzles, and Fig. 11 is a plan View of the fixed part of the nozzle shown by Fig. 10.

In an apparatus as illustrated a suitable stand or frame carries a drip-pan 12 and above the pan are tanks or receptacles 13 and 14 preferably made of porcelain, terracotta or other suitable acid-proof material, such tanks having interlocking ends and a covering piece above the connected ends. The floor of the washing-chamber or tank 13 has therethrough apertures for the passage of parts of couplings which are engaged by nuts to which are secured Sprayers 10, see Fig. 9, made preferably of porcelaimand to the couplings below the bottom of the tank are secured pipes 9 which are connected by branch-pipes to a water-supply pipe 6, such pipe having a valve located to be within easy reach of the operator. The outlet opening of the tank 13 is connected by a trap with a waste pipe 25.

The etching tank 14, is divided llOllZOlk tally by a perforated partition 15, and below the partition there is a chamber 16 for air and gases under compression, which are admitted theretothrough an opening 17 the chamber 16 is also provided wlth an eduction opening which is connected to the waste-pipe 25 by a pipe or coupling 18 having a valve 19. 'l he perforated partition 15 carries a plurality of atomizing nozzles or aspirators that are made in two parts, the fixed or lower part 20, having a conical portion below which is a threaded extension that engages the partition'about the perforations, and above the conical part projects a tip; the shoulder between the tip and the conical portion and the tip have ribs 21 and the passage through the fixed part of the nozzle is contracted atthe discharge. The movable part or cap 22 of the nozzlerests upon the ribs 21 the lower edge being maintained above the upper surface of the partition 15, and the o cning through the upper end of the cap is s ightly larger in diameter than the opening through the tip, the construction providing a self centering nozzle andone that will adapt itself to the proper projection of the etching fluid under varying air pressures and depths of liquid in the etching'chamber. Several of the nozzles have in communication with the o enings therethrough depending tubes 11 t at araeither perforated at their lower ends or open, the purpose of the tubes being to draw from the ciamber 16 any liquid that may accumulate therein. The atomizing nozzles or aspirators are arranged in longi- 'tudinal and transverse rows, they being placed closer together transversely than longitudinally.

The acid chamber 14 is connected by a passage to I. funnel 23 that is formed integral with the chamber, and below the passage is a conical seat for 8. lug 24, and below the seat for the plug the unnel is connected by a suitable coupling to the drain pipe 25. The sha e of the funnel'enables the operator to rea i1 ascertain the level of the liquid in the acid 0 amber. The acid chamber or etching tank 14, to one side of the funnel 23 has a 1101- j low offset that communicates with the etching chamber 14, and upon the hollow offset is placed the shell of a condenser, such shell 26 being constructed to receive a series of on one edge and have legs or projections so that when placed inthe shell one above the other a circuitous passage will be provided for the vapor or gases, which are drawn therethrough by a pump or otherexhaust mechanism 30, and the vapor or gases are condensed in the shell the liquid being returned to the etching chamber. The upper end of the shell or condensing chamber 26 is connected by a suitable casing 28 with the inductionpipe 29 of apump or blower 30; the eduction pipe 31 extends from a tra 8 to the eduction opening of the pump or b lbwer 30, the pipe 31 being coupled to the opening 17 through the end wall of the air chamber 16. The eduction pipe 31 adjacent to the opening 17 has a by-pass or valved coupling 60, of ordinary construction the stem of the valve having a bar or lever 61 that is attached to a rod 62 which extends to the front of the machine, and when the rod is properly moved the valve is positioned so that a portion of the exhaust may pass into the waste pipe 25, the balance being forced into the air chamber to maintain therein a pressure that is greater than that of the atmosphere. The by-pass valve and its connections place under control of the operator the pressure within the chamber 16, so that the amount of liquid projected by the atomizers may be regulated without changing the speed of the pump or blower the adjusting of the valve and the revolutions of the pump or blower will also determine the reduction of pressure in the etching chamber.

The frame that is sup orted by the upper edges of the tanks 13 an 14, hason its inner portion an inward projecting flange 33 and a depending part that overlies the inner edges of the tanks the angle bar 34 that forms the outer portion of the frame has attached thereto brackets to which are secured arches 35 a bridge-plate 36. The upper portions of the arches 35 have bearings for a driven shaft 37 which has thereon a gear 38 that meshes with a larger gear 39 carried by a crank-shaf t 40 such shaft being ournaled in bearings attached to or formed integral with the. bridge-plate 36. The crank on the shaft 40 has secured thereto a connecting rod 41, the front end of which engages a slide 42, thatreci rocates in a guide 43 carried by the bridgeate 36. The front end of the slide 42 is s aped to provide a catch 44, with which a transverse bar 46 of the bail engages to reci rocate the carriage or plate carrier. The sir 0 bars 45 of the bail being attached to the axles of the rear wheels of the carriage or plate-carrier. The transverse ortion of the )ridge has attached to its un erside a partial covering plate 47 for the etching-chaml her, the rear section 74 of such plate being 1 secured to a leaf 75 that is hinged to the br'dge-plate 36, and when the carriage or baffle-plates 27; the plates 27 are cut-away 1 p1 te carrier is moved forward that part 74 and the side pieces above the point of atof the covering late that is over the rear end Y of theetching eliamber may be raised so that access may be had to the interior of the etching-chamber.

Each of the side pieces 48 of the carriage or plate carrier has stub axlesfor wheels that engage the upper edges of the frame and the tracks 49 and when the front cross-bar 46 of the bail is disengaged from the hook 44 the carriage may be moved forward. When the carriage' or plate-carrier is moved forward the front wheels will ride upon the inclined portion of the tracks 49, and will incline the carriage and plate to drain such etching fluid as may adhere to the plate and the plate holder into the etching chamber before the plate carrier assumes a horizontal position over the washing tanlr. v

The side pieces 48 of the carriage or plate carrier ale connected by a transverse plate 50, which may be of greater width than the covering plate 47 for the etching chamber,

tachment of the stub axles have secured thereto parallel bars 51 on which are mounted ad'ustable clamps that carry a flat bar 52, such ar lying transversely below the plate 50, one edge of the plate 50 and the edge of the bar 52 being shaped to engage the edges of the plate to be etched, such plate being held on the carriage or late-carrier with its back against the underside of the plate 50.

The stub axles 53 on the rear of the carriage or plate carrier are engaged by the rear ends of the side bars 45 of the bail and the front bar 46 of such bail when the carriage is in position over the etching chamber, is engaged by the hook 44 so that when the shaft 37 is turned a reciprocatory movement will be imparted to the carriage.

The frame that is supported upon the upperedges of the tanks-has adjacent to the rear end of the water chamber stops or upward projections 55 and the carriage has extensions 54 so that when the carriage is moved forward and raised to a rearward inclined position, to attach a plate to the plate holder or to inspect the plate after being etched, the end extensions of the carriage will engage the stops.

The covering plate 47 and its hinged section 74 which are carried by the bridge are of less width than the tanks, and the sides of the carriage move in the space between the frame and the covering plates, so that there will be about the sides and ends of the etching chamber a space through which air will be admitted to the etching chamber, when the exhaust mechanism connected therewith is in operation.

In operation the carriage or late-carrier tov which the plate to be etched as been secured is moved over the etching chamber, etching fluid having been placed therein in sufficient quantity to cover the lower portions of the aspirators, the shaft that is supported by the bridge being turned reciprocate-s the carriage with its attached plate, moving the plate back and forth a distance about the same as the space between the transverse rows of aspirators. The pump or blower being driven. forces air into the chamber below the etching chamber and through the aspirators, projecting the etching-fluid against the reciprocating plate. The chemical action of the etchingdluid upon the unprotected parts of the plate produces fumes, heat and gases which increases or adds to the contents of the etching-chamber, and to prevent the fumes and gases escaping and vitiating the atmosphere about the machine, and to recover a part of the etching fluid, the gases or other products generated by the contact of the etching fluid with the metallic plate that is being etched are drawn from the etchingchamber, the suction of the pump or blower, reduces the pressure in the etching-chamber below that of the atomsphere; such reduction of pressure or partial vacuum in the etching-cliamber causes an inflow of air about the edges of the covering plate into said etching-chamber. The vapors that are drawn from the etching-chainber bythe pump or blower are first causcd to pass about a series of bathe-plates, the etch-v ing-fluid constituting a part of such vapors being condensed thereon. will flow back to the etching-chamber. The exhaust opening of the etching-chamber, the condenser and the duct therefrom are connected to the pump and the pipe from. the eduetion opening of the pump or blower leads to the trap S, the pipe from 'such trap adjacent to the opening to the air chamber 16 having a bypass valve under control of the operator so that a part of the discharge will enter the drain plpe, the balance of air under com-- pression intermixed with the products that are carried over from the etching-chamber,

enter under pressure the air-chamber and pass therefrom through the aspirators, to project the etching-fluid against the plate to be etched.

If desired the full quantity of air under compression may be admitted to the airchamber and such chamber may have a valved outlet opening so that the air in excess of what is required with the condensations may escape, and in operatiomthere is always a partial vacuum in the etchingchamber, and in' the chamber below the as pirators the pressure will be maintained in excess of atmospheric pressure.

The plate after being etched may be moved toward the washingtank, such movement inclining the plate so that particles of etching-fluid will drain therefrom into the etching-chamber, the carriage is lifted to incline the same and expose to view the plate, and when lowered to a horizontal position it llZO is washed by water projected through the nozzles attached to the bottom of the washing-tank.

We claim.

1. In an etching apparatus, the combination of an etching chamber, a partial closure therefor, a holder for the plate to be etched, an air-chamber,atomizers having openings therethrough which communicate with the air-chamber and with the etching chamber, and means for maintaining in the etchingchamber a partial vacuum and in the airchamber pressure greater than that of the atmosphere.

2. In an apparatus for etching metal plates, the combination of an etching-chamer, a partial cover therefor, a holder for the plate to be etched which is adapted to maintain the late below the partial cover for the etching-c lamber, a chamber for air under ressure below the etching-chamber, atomlzers in the etching-chamber which have air passages that communicate with the airchamber, and means for partially exhausting the etching chamber and simultaneously roducing in the air-chamber pressure whic lh is greater than the pressure of the atmosphere.

3. In an etching apparatus, an etchingchamber that is partially open to the atmos phere, means therein for projecting etchinguid upward against a plate maintained in such etching-chamber, means for exhausting from the etching-chamber during the process of etching the fumes and gases generated in the etching-chamber by contact of the etching fluid with the plate and at the same time causing an inflow of air to such chamber.

4. In an etching apparatus, an etching chamber, atomizers for pro'ecting by means of air under compression etc ing fluid against a plate maintained in the chamber above the atomizers, means for exhausting from the etching ehamber, the products generated by contact of the etching-fluid with the plate to be etched, and means for condensing such products and returning them to the etching chamber.

5. In an ap aratus for etching metal plates, a artial y closed etching chamber, a chamber eneath the same which communicates with the etching chamber and unitary means for maintaining in the etching chamher a partial vacuum and in the other chamber pressure in excess of that of the atmosphere.

6. In an apparatus for etching metal plates, an etching chamber which is partially open to the atmosphere, means for maintaining a plate in such chamber'so that it will be subjectedto the action of an etching fluid, and means tor maintaining a partial vacuum in the etching chamber to cause an inflow of air .thereto.

7. In an etching apparatus, a partially closed etching chamber, means connected a plate maintaine with the etching chamber to efiect an inflow ofair thereto, inlet and exhaust openings both positioned above the floor of the etching chamber, and air-supply openings through the floor of the etching chamber.

8. An etching apparatus having an etching chamber which is partially 0 en to the atmosphere, atomizers thro h W ich air is forced into the etching cham er, and means for maintaining a partial vacuum in the P etching chamber.

9. In an etching apparatus, an etchingchamber which is artially open to the atmosphere, an air-chamber connected therewith, a plurality of atomizers attached to the wall between the etching chamber and the air chamber, an opening through one of the other walls of the etching chamber that is connected with means for maintaining in the etching chamber a partial vacuum, a fun- .nel that communicates with the etching chamber to supply the same with etching fluid, a stopper seated below the opening between the funnel and the etching chamber, means for maintainim in the air chamber pressure sufficient to Iorce air through the atomizers and pro'ect etching fluid against above the atomizers.

1.0. In an etching apparatus, anetching chamber which is partially open to the atmosplhere, an exhaust opening through one of t e walls of the chamber, a condenser having as a part thereof a series of bafiie plates, said condenser being maintained at a higher elevation than the exhaust o ening, exhaust mechanism connected with the condenser for maintaining a partial vacuum in the etching chamber, a seriesof atomizers an air chamber that communicates with the etching chamber through such series of atomizers, a ipe connectin the exhaust mechanism wit 1 the air cham er to maintain therein suflicient pressure to project etching fluid against a platemaintained above the atomizers, and an opening through which the compressed air and gases not required to project the etching fluid may escape, substantially as set forth.

11. In an etching apparatus, an etching chamber having therein atomizers, a chamber that communicates with the etching chamber through the atomizers, a pump or blower connected with the etching chamber and with the air chamber, a waste pipe means for shunting a portion of the air and gases drawn from the etching chamber into the waste pipe, the compressed air and gases that pass through the atomizers projecting etchin fluid against a plate maintained above me atomizers.

12. In an etching apparatus, a tank divided by a partition a plurality of atomizers carried by the partition, openings through tie atomizers which connect the chambers a ove and below the partition, one or more aton'iizers to the bottom of the lower chamber for drawing from the lower chamber liquid that may accumulate therein, and means for exhausting irom the upper chaminto the lower chamber and from thence carria e in an inclined position to expose to view t to plate. I

16. In an etching apparatus, an etching chamber and a washing chamber, a plate- ,s'upporting-carriage which is movable over ber gases and \"apors generated therein and i torcmg a portlon of such gases and vapors into the upper chamber through the atomthe chambers, a bail attached to the carriage, means with which the bail may be placed in engagement to reciprocate the plate-supporting carriage when over the etching chamber. I

17. The combination in an etching apparatus, an etching chamber, a washing chamber, a frame mounted upon said chambers, a bridge attached to the frame and provided with a partial cover for the etching chamber, a carriage mounted to be movable upon the frame, a plate-holder attached to the carriage to maintain a plate under the partial cover for the etching chamber, a bail attached to the carriage and effect an im'low of air to the etching chamber, E the pump or blower also forcing a port ion 3 of the air, vapors and gases that are drawn 7 from the etching chamber into the air chamber and through the atomizers to pro ect under control of the operator to direct;

otherwise than into the air chamber the air: vapors and gases that are not nee led to project the etching fluid.

14. in an etching apparatus, an etching and a washing chamber which are both open to the atmosphere, a plate-carrier and a part ial cover for the etching chamber, ways upon which the plate-carrier may be moved; the ways having inclined portions upon which the plate-carrier will ride when moved toward the washing chamber, for the purpose set forth.

15. In an etching apparatus, an etching chamber, a plate washing chamber adjacent thereto, a 'rame mounted on the etching chamber, carriage engaging and reciprocating means carried by the frame, a carriage mounted to be movable over the etchingchamber, means for attaching a plate to the carriage, and means for maintaining the adapted to be placed in engagement with reciprocatory means carried by the bridge, projections on the carriage and stops on the frame which may be brought into engagement when the carriage is raised, substantially as shown. etching fluid agamst the plate, and a valve 18. An etching apparatus, comprising a partially open etching chamber, a conduit. from the etching chamber, and; means adapted to cause a current of air to pass into the etching chamber and from said chamber into the conduit.

' 19. An etching apparatus ha\ ingan etcl1- ing chamber, a conduit in communication with the etching chamber, and means for drawing air into the etching chamber and out of the same through the conduit, for the purpose of withdrawing from the etching chamber the fumes generated therein, and to prevent the temperature being unduly raised in the chamber.

\Vashington, D. (3., July th, 1906.

LOUIS EDWARD LEVY. MAX LEVY.

Witnesses:

EUGENE W. JOHNSON, C. WEBB. 

